good read but predictable

Golden Richards is the husband of four wifes and has twenty eight children with these four wives. Golden, by virtue of his Mormon religion, is the leader of his family but that couldn't be further from the truth. His wives have developed an intricate web of hyerarchy in the family of which Golden is no more than a figure head. He is overwhelmed by the responsibility of supporting this village known as his family and has no one to share his woes. Golden is sad, pathetic and lonely. He turns to yet another woman (!!) for comfort and this takes him down a slippery down hill path.

Told with a sense of humor this is a slice of life type book that is an easy and enjoyable read.

This is a coming of age story and a story about a decision a young man makes which no doubt will define him as an adult. Robertson is a master at character development and he does not disapoint when creating 13 year old Morris Bird III.

In the summer of 1948 Morris's grandmother is dying and the family is fighting over her belongings. Morris is deeply affected by the self centered way his mother and her family are behaving and feels a need to protect his grandmother who has been one of the biggest influences in his life.

Robertson does a wonderful job of giving the perspective from a 13 year old point of view and builds to the climax you know is coming.

I always find it difficult to review a David Sedaris book. I love his writing and humor but explaining why leaves me starting and stopping sentences with a silly grin and a "you've just got to read the book yourself" shrug. If you have read Sedaris you get what I am saying. If you haven't, and you enjoy sarcastic, biting humor, then go grab any of his books now. This particular book is a collection of short stories that as best as I can tell are about Sedaris growing up in his highly unconventional home. This isn't a new subject for him but it is always an enjoyable ride as he describes his family and his insights.

I have always had a fascination with the Appalachian Trail. When my oldest son was in boy scouts he and I made a pack to hike the trail some day. He is now a grown man with a career and family and I am middle aged and hate to exercise. Hmmm....we still claim we'll do it some day but for now I entertain myself reading every book that comes across the desk about the trail.
Miller aka AWOL is a father with a wife, young children and a job who decides to thru hike the trail. With the support of his wife he quits his job and fulfills his dream. This books is his journey and it is full of information about the trail and the people he encounters. I enjoyed this book because he wasn't on a spiritual journey or in any way preachy about his adventure. This was the right thing for him and he shares it with the reader.

I love Barbara Kingsolver and this book did not disappoint! The story is based in ... where a seemingly beautiful natural phenomenon occurs which is really a sad by product of global warming. Kingsolver uses her science and journalistic background to write a wonderful fictional tale of what could happen in our future due to global warming. She also does a wonderful job of painting a picture of a woman in a small town who wants to do more with her life but realizes what she might throw away if she reaches for more.

Little Bee will grab you on the first page and hold you in it's grip until the very end! This is the story of two women who's lives crash in to each other one horrible day and how their lives are forever changed by the events that unfold. The character of Little Bee is one that is tragic yet incredibly hopeful and inspiring at the same time.
And that is all I am going to say. To tell you more would spoil the story. Just take my word for it, this is a book you want to read!